Cover Summary:
In the darkest corners of the night in Caldwell, New York, a conflict like no other rages. Long divided as a terrifying battleground for the vampires and their enemies, the city is home to a band of brothers born to defend their race: the warrior vampires of the Black Dagger Brotherhood.

John Matthew has come a long way since he was found living among humans, his vampire nature unknown to himself and to those around him. After he was taken in by the Brotherhood, no one could guess what his true history was- or his true identity. Indeed, the fallen Brother Darius has returned, but with a different face and a very different destiny. As a vicious personal vendetta takes John into the heart of the war, he will need to call up on both who he is now and who he once was in order to face off against evil incarnate.

Xhex, a symphath assassin, has long steeled herself against the attraction between her and John Matthew. Having already lost one lover to madness, she will not allow the male of worth to fall prey to the darkness of her twisted life. When fate intervenes, however, the two discover that love, like destiny, is inevitable between soul mates.

My Review: For the first time in a long time I am enthusiastic about a BDB novel. For the first time in a long time I felt in sync with the characters. For the first time in a long time I have this butterfly giddy feeling in my stomach again when reflecting upon a BDB novel. While LOVER MINE was not a 5-star read for me, I am excited that the incredibly good and addictive overrode the irritations for some of J.R. Ward’s signature writing style ingredients. I must say that initially JM and Xhex romantic set-up gave me a déjà-vu feeling. There were certain commonalities between JM/Xhex and Zadist/Bella’s romance that made me fear it would be a carbon-copy but my fears were quickly put to rest as JM and Xhex are such different characters, which made their story take a course all on its own.

What can I say; I feel that John Matthew and Xhex brought back the romance with a capital R that resonated with me. John Matthew had a long character progress and I loved his character from the moment he appeared in LOVER ETERNAL but he really hit the hero button for me in his own story. He was in pain and I felt it, he was in love and he made me feel the entire spectrum of emotions that came along with that fact. He was also angry and revengeful with Lash being the trigger, his whole persona radiated emotions and I couldn’t get enough of him. Even though he couldn’t speak his feelings, his personality, blasted off the pages with a force that had an undeniable impact with me.

Now Xhex has always been an Amazon warrior in my mind but in Lover Mine she showed that behind this tough-as-nails exterior hid a well of emotions. She is a survivor but to bounce back from her ordeal takes more than inner strength, the pain needs a way out and needs to find a reciprocator who understands the source of that pain. Xhex will forever remain an Amazon warrior but in combination with girly-girl moments it is an interplay between her warrior and feminine side that turned her in to a woman I could respect, admire and like.

The romance between JM and Xhex encompassed the bittersweet with the outright passion. The courage combined with the fear. Their story rang true from start to finish where they laid themselves on the line for the other who meant everything. With Xhex and her ordeal the sensuality had soaring sensual highs and raw painful lows but it fitted perfectly within the character development and only enhanced the impact of the healing that needed to take place.

Now next to JM and Xhex, who rule with their romance and their much desired revenge, there are also Qhuinn and Blaylock. Their angst but also their needs are formidably told from both sides and it led up to a balcony scene that was so heart shattering to witness that it had my heart bleeding for them. The build-up between Quinn and Blay through this novel is hard to let go of and it is one of the storylines that has me pining for the next novel. For so many novels I shared their ups and downs, came to care so deeply about them, the second generation BDB heroes definitely has me in their grips and I only want more of them, much more.

Like always J.R. Ward has various storylines going on simultaneously and every one of them captured my interest on some level. The Darius/Tohr storyline piqued my interest and in the end it was nicely entwined within the larger story that it brought more depth to it. Yet I remember the beginning about JM/Darius and wondered why there was no real explanation in Lover Mine about the reincarnation, about the epileptic episodes. It’s not so much an irritation but more a thought I had while closing this book. Darius might not be a living character but he is one who I will always adore.

Another secondary storyline is the one of the Paranormal Investigators Gregg Winn, Holly Fleet and Stan. The relevance is only revealed at the very end and still, even then, I got no idea if it is meant as another character introduction or if it was just a connection to Xhex in the end. Aside from the multiple storylines there is also the slang which still doesn’t always fit the larger-than-life vampires in my opinion and the abbreviations, I’m grateful I knew nine out of ten this time so that it didn’t pull me out of the story. They still irked me, it still isn’t my favorite aspect of JR Ward’s writing style but because the rest was so good the irritations slid to the background.

Lash as an enemy bears all the signs for a true evil and his transformation is a gruesome one. I really had a few gag moments in the book regarding his character. With his transformation I thought he would become a very powerful and evil character, yet I wonder with the ending if he delivered on that promise. I will have to see if J.R. Ward has more in store for him!

For a five hundred plus pages novel J.R Ward always seem to pack the story to its capacity with plot progression, character development and lot’s of dialogues. I never feel I’m reading such an extensive novel as the pages just fly through my fingers. In LOVER MINE this was also the case but what surprised me is when I read the final page I wanted to start all over again. Something that hasn’t happened to me since LOVER AWAKENED.

LOVER MINE worked for me and since a long time I’m actually closing a BDB novel with the instant desire for the next. JM and Xhex brought romance, action, emotion and many cherished characters together for a pulls-pounding addictive read.

4 stars

Quote JM:
At least he wasn’t as he’d been when he’d been hurt anymore – although that was true only on the outside. Inside, he was all the ages he ever lived through, the infant who’d been abandoned, the child who’d been unwanted, the pretrans who’d been out in the world on his own…and now the grown male.
Who was an ass-kicker in the field and a loyal friend and, going by what he’d done to that lesser in the brownstone and what he’d undoubtedly wanted to do to Lash, a very nasty enemy.

Quote Qhuinn:
Funny, he could barely remember losing his virginity. He recalled the female, of course, but the experience hadn’t made any kind of indelible impression. Neither had the orgasms he’d given and gotten since. Just a lot of fun, lot of sweaty gasping, lot of targets identified and realized.
Nothing but fucking that was easily forgotten.
Heading down to the foyer, though, he realized he was going to remember Blay’s first for the rest of his life.

Quote Xhex:
“No, you’ve got it all wrong, John.” Reading his emotions, she shook her head. “You’re not half the male you could be because of what was done to you. You’re twice what anyone else is because you survived.”

Lovely review Leontine you said it wonderfully. I adore that the romance was back and the sub plots didn't take anything away from JM and Xhex, i could have done without the ghost house chapters, i was tempted to skip them many times :P

And im with Mandi, the Blay/Qhuinn parts just hurt my heart, but im hopeful for a lovely story for them too. i bawled several times through the book, good and sad tears. Ward gave us a wonderful book!

@Mandi - I heard the buzz about LM but I'm not always sure if I will feel the same. I read the first page and I was hooked, line and sinker. I hope LEn and LU were the dip in this series!!

@Pearl - I've read various reviews now and it's so diverse, what apealed and put people off. I know I'm on the bandwagon of Qhuinn and Blay while you're not LOL But I think our thoughts on the romance is about the same. I'm a minute away from reading your review :)

@Sparklybearsy - Oh, Qhuinn and Blay...with that balcony scene *heart still breaks* There whole storyline had my choking up on tears!!

@Elaing8 - Oh I so hope you get your turn quickly! I remember the waitlists for certain books, I'm so not a patient woman LOL

@Blodeuedd - I know the UK paperback of LM was 4,45 euro pre-order price at Bookdepo, which was a very friendly price. Or are you waiting for the US paperback? Again, I can't wait that long, I've got patience issues LOL

@Janna - Yeah it had its ultimate lowpoint with Lu and LEn but LM was verra good :)

@Susi -Skipped the PI plotline *gasps in shock* I will skip certain parts while re-reading but never the first time LOL

Ward is so back with Lover Mine *hi-five*. I'm still on a Lover Mine high, I know there were probably loop holes and story boo-boos but I dont' care *makes dismissive hand gesture* LM is one of my favorite books so far.

Loved the review, Leontine! I'm a shameless J.R. Ward addict; even when the books have issues...I still read and re-read them and just focus on my fave parts! I've loved John since his introduction so I was waiting for this book and it did not disappoint! Thanks for the review!

@VFG - Oh yes, take it off the shelves and go read it! I wants to know your opinion too on some matters :)

@Smokinhotbooks - *High five back* After three books that couldn't do it for me in various area's I was so utterly dumbfound when I read...and read...and read LM pretty much in one session. It was all very good with personal irks regarding her writing but that's it ;)

@Pen - For the first time I'm actually looking forward to the next BDB novel *woohoot*